200 MOST ESSENTIAL 60s SONGS: 110- 101. Continues next week.

Caffé Latté looks back at…

THE 200 MOST ESSENTIAL

SONGS OF THE

1960s

No decade was as turbulent as the 1960s. Politically and socially, there was turmoil. Musically too, the rules were changing at breakneck speed. This was the decade of Flower Power, Motown, Woodstock, girl groups, Beatlemania, psychedelia and The British Invasion. Here are 200 songs that matter most from the period. These recordings had an impact on music and provided the soundtrack to the 10 years that made up the Sixties.

#110

ARE YOU LONESOME TONIGHT?

Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley was expanding his audience in 1960 with a series of remakes and adaptations of older tracks and genres. As the follow-up for "It's Now Or Never", he covered "Are You Lonesome Tonight?", a song dating back to 1928. The single topped the American and UK charts.

#109

PLEASE MR. POSTMAN

The Marvelettes

Berry Gordy Jr. was vindicated when The Marvelettes charted in the U.S.A. with "Please Mr. Postman" in 1961. The disc became his fledgling Motown label's first #1 single. It was co-written by Brian Holland who went on to create several other chart topping gems as part of a songwriter / production team with his brother Eddie and Lamont Dozier. The disc's success paved the way for the label's other girl groups, most notably Martha and the Vandellas and The Supremes.

#108

RUNAWAY

Del Shannon

"Runaway" raised the bar for rock 'n roll in the early 1960s. Del Shannon's vocal performance is thrilling, complemented so unforgettably by Max Crook's Clavioline solo. An example of perfect pop for its time, little wonder it reached #1 in America, Britain, Canada, Australia and other countries.

#107

ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE

The Beatles

On June 25, 1967, the first live international TV event, "Our World" was broadcast. Various countries participated. The UK was represented by The Beatles as they recorded new single, "All You Need Is Love". As it sped to #1 in the U.S., Britain, Europe, Canada and Australia, the song soon became an anthem.

#106

A WHITER SHADE OF PALE

Procol Harum

Issued in 1967, Procol Harum dropped one of the decade's most intriguing discs. Whatever the lyrics are about, "A Whiter Shade of Pale", built around the Bach-inspired organ work, remains a sonic highlight of the 1960s. It topped the charts in Britain, Europe and Australia and landed in the Top 5 on Billboard's Hot 100.

#105

SON OF A PREACHERMAN

Dusty Springfield

Dusty Springfield dominated the blue-eyed soul scene in Britain. "Son Of A Preacherman" was recorded with Aretha Franklin's studio wizards Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd and Arif Mardin as part of her 'Dusty in Memphis' album sessions. Alongside her own recordings, Springfield opened doors for many soul and R&B acts in the UK., exposing many to a new genre.

#104

JUMPIN' JACK FLASH

The Rolling Stones

Unleashed in 1968, "Jumpin' Jack Flash" wasted little time to scale the charts, reaching #1 in Britain and #3 in the U.S. It sported yet another unforgettable riff from Keith Richards.

#103

BORN TO BE WILD

Steppenwolf

Guitar and organ join forces on "Born To Be Wild". In 1968, the disc took Steppenwolf to #2 in America. Its spirit of freedom and rebellion has ensured it remains a radio staple to this day.

#102

 

PIECE OF MY HEART

Big Brother & The Holding Company

In 1968, Janis Joplin dispelled any doubt that a white woman could belt out the blues. With the band Big Brother & The Holding Company, she laid out a knockout vocal on "Piece Of My Heart"for the 'Cheap Thrills' album.

#101

YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE

Gerry & The Pacemakers

Who would have envisaged that a song from a 1948 musical ("Carousel") could not only climb to #1 in Britain, but remain so indelibly linked with Liverpool so many decades later? Gerry And The Pacemakers dropped its remake in 1963. It became the Liverpudlian band's 3rd consecutive chart topping single on the UK chart.

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